d0dge77 Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 We had 4 laydees back in April last year from BHWT - and all was fine until... We lost Geri back in October after a day of looking a bit under the weather she was dead when we went to get them up in the morning This week Dusty fell down the ramp when we went to get them up - she'd a had a run in with the dog the day before but the dog had come off worse and she had been okay the rest of the day. We assumed that she had hurt herself a little in the incident as she couldn't stand very well and put her in a box in the kitchen to rest and recover (this seemed to be the best advice i could gleen from various forums). After a full day in the box she was eating, drinking and pooping so we assumed she was perking up however during the night she was restless in the box and we got up to check on her. She was panting, fluffed up and still unable to stand. After some more (rather panicky) research i found that she matched all the symptoms of 'Egg Binding'. Sadly she passed away in the early hours. The reason for this post is that i have spent many a happy hour reading all about chickens on various forums but i had never come across 'egg binding' and the fact that it is almost always fatal. I know about laying softies and the symptoms but had no idea a stuck egg could affect the chooks legs - if i had have known i wouldn't have assumed it was from the run in with the dog and we may have been able to help her earlier and save her poor little life. After many tears my partner had declared that she couldn't do it all again with new chickens as the emotional wrench is too much but as terribly upsetting as it is to loose a chook i know that our chooks had 12 months of happy living after the horrors of the battery farm before time was called on them - this makes it ALL worthwhile - every tear and every bit of worry and heart ache. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 I'm very sorry to hear about your sad experience . Sadly, it can be hard to diagnose what's wrong with a chicken as they mask their symptoms well and can't tell us "where it hurts" . I hope your OH decides the pleasure of keeping chickens is worth the risk of losing them unexpectedly. Most of us (including myself) have years of illness-free chicken keeping so I really think you've just been very unlucky . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 I'm so sorry to hear of your experiences. ANH is right, chickens are good at carrying on as normal until it's too late (it's their flock mentality) and ex-bats are not necessarily the most robust of hens because of their previous stressful existence. Sometimes it just happens and it's not your fault. We've had a few who just upped and died for no apparent reason, mostly recently Farkle who died a week or so ago and was fine and laying one day then suddently went downhill and was dead a few days later. We took her to the vet but she didn't respond to the meds and both the vet and I agree that she was probably just exhausted. At least she had 9 months as a proper hen. I really hope that this doesn't put you or your OH off getting some more when the time is right. Even if they only have a few days or months, it really is the best time of an ex-bat's life. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2010 Share Posted March 22, 2010 so sorry to hear about Dusty, that's my nickname xxxx Every time we lose a girl i go thru the same "what if" scenarios We lost Lizzie a few days ago to a prolapse and i was like "what if we'd got up earlier, we might have caught it and been able to do something" but you can't think like that because you know in your heart you did the best for your girl. Those hours, days, weeks, years we can give to those special girls are precious to them and to us. It hurts when they go but I just had to look at Sally, our remaining ex battery chicken, dustbathing and lying in the sun; fresh air, peaceful surroundings, sunshine, the space to lie down on comfortable bedding amongst other things, to know I'll keep doing it...over and over again RIP Dusty girl xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 sorry to hear about Dusty, try not to beat yourself up x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 It's heartbreaking every time, and my OH says what yours said every time, but we still carry on. The pleasure outweighs the pain. I always second guess myself after I loose one, but they are just so good at hiding their pain and symptoms, we just do the very best we can for them, right until the end. With ex-batts, every single day is a gift. Every day they have seen the sun or stepped on grass is better than their whole life before that day. If you are like me, you will now be an expert on hens being egg bound, and have sworn to your self that you will know exactly what to do and what to look out for next time. But even with all the experience of this you have now gained, your little girl may still have hidden it from you really well, so please try not to beat yourself up about this for too long. Think of all the other little girls out there waiting in the dark, who would love to come and spend just a few days with you, they would tell you that you are a fantastic chicken keeper. Big hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Sorry you lost her I have heard that it can affect the legs by pressure on the nerves. It's come up as a suggestion about why a chicken is lame on some of the threads Mostin you always know the best thing to say. I echo your sentiments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d0dge77 Posted March 23, 2010 Author Share Posted March 23, 2010 Thank you all so much for your kind words - brought a lump to my throat. Its so nice to speak to people who understand. Every one at work - bar one - who have heard about Dusty's departure have laughed and said 'did you eat it'. She was not an 'it' she was a chook and not just any chook - she was MY chook. Have been in touch with Ian at BHWT and he has advised waiting until we only have 1 chook left before getting any more. Rock and Hard Place situation now - i want some more girls to have a happy retirment with us (i'd have them all if i could) but now i have to wait to loose another one before that can happen Oh the joys of keeping chickens !!! Thank you all again xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 So sorry to hear of your loss, one of my ex-batts Hilda is very unwell and I fear I may have to have her put down tomorrow. Its heartbreaking when you lose one of your girls but you have to think of the happiness you give them after the horrors of a battery farm. I can't understand why you've been told to wait until you have one hen left before getting others?? That seems daft to me! You do have to keep new girls separate from established ones for a while but that's about it! Maybe book again for more hens or try another hen rescue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
